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Follow The Rookie

December 14, 1999|By Dave Muir.

New Jersey center Scott Gomez is considered a Calder Trophy candidate as rookie of the year. Gomez's five goals and 23 assists not only leads all rookies in scoring but also is good enough for the Devils' team lead. At his current pace, Gomez would become the sixth first-year player this decade, and the first U.S.-born rookie in history to lead his team in scoring. Below are the five first-year players to lead their teams in scoring in the '90s:

ROOKIE TEAM SEASON GAMES GOALS ASSISTS POINTS

Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa 1995-96 82 26 35 61

Paul Kariya Anaheim 1994-95 47 18 21 39

Alexei Yashin Ottawa 1993-94 83 30 49 79

Teemu Selanne Winnipeg 1992-93 84 76 56 132

Pat Falloon San Jose 1991-92 79 25 34 59

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BLUELINE ROYALTY

Los Angeles captain Rob Blake leads all defensemen in goals scored with 10 in his first 28 games. Blake is on pace to set a Kings team record for most goals by a defenseman in a season. The team record is 25, set by Steve Duchesne during the 1988-89 season. Only three defensemen in team history have reached the 20-goal plateau in a single season: Duchesne (three times), Blake (twice) and Larry Murphy (once).

MASTER MIND

Los Angeles rookie head coach Andy Murray has recorded the second best start by a Kings head coach in his first 25 games. Murray's winning percentage of .640 on the strength of a 14-7-4-1 record for 33 points are second only to Barry Melrose. During his first 25 games as Kings head coach in 1992-93, Melrose fashioned a .680 winning percentage on a 16-7-2 record for 34 points. The 1992-93 Kings advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first and only time in club history.

NEW YORK-NEW YORK

The New York Rangers acquired veteran defenseman Rich Pilon off waivers Dec. 1 from the rival New York Islanders. This transaction made Pilon the 32nd player in history to play for both franchises. However, only two players in history, centers Pat Conacher and Sergei Nemchinov, have suited up for the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

POWER SURGE

The Mighty Ducks' Teemu Selanne scored twice, including his 100th career power-play goal, to lead Anaheim over Atlanta 4-1 Sunday. Since Selanne's 1992-93 rookie campaign, only Dallas' Brett Hull (122) has scored more goals while enjoying the man advantage. Brendan Shanahan, Detroit (99), Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix (95), and Dave Andreychuk of Boston (94) round out the top five power-play goal leaders since the 1992-93 season. %%